Christmas is coming, which means you’ll probably have most of your feasting for the month done at home. But, don’t shortchange yourself of an opportunity to dine out with your loved ones from time to time, as Singapore has plenty of new restaurants and cafes to keep your stomach happy this December 2022.
P.S.: if you’re looking for festive dining options, check out our Christmas takeaways and deliveries guide, as well as our Christmas set menus and buffet list. Both of these have early bird discounts so you save quite a bit!
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Image credit: Chingu
Calling all K-BBQ lovers who live in the North-East: put Chingu @ The Oval on your radar. Located at The Oval in Seletar, the Korean barbecue restaurant puts a refined spin on the dining experience, with premium meats, sharing platters and more. Look forward to cuts of steak and pork that have been wet or dry-aged for seven days to give them a richer flavour, as well as other authentic Korean dishes to feast alongside. We recommend trying the King Sejong Banquet ($312++), which feeds up to six people. The set includes dry-aged Kagoshima A4 Wagyu ribeye, marinated Korean pork ribs, Korean-style shabu shabu meats, and even mozzarella squares. Another highlight here is the banchan, all prepared with traditional Korean methods.
Image credit: Chingu @ The Oval
The grills at Chingu @ The Oval are all smokeless, so you won’t leave the place smelling like cooked meat and smoke. If you’re planning to dine in big groups, the restaurant also has open grill tabletops that can seat up to 10!
Address: 7 The Oval, Singapore 797865
Opening hours: Mon-Fri 11am to 11pm, Sat-Sun 9am to 11pm
Tel: 9690 8007
Website
Chingu @ The Oval is not a halal-certified eatery.
World-famous Cafe Kitsune has finally opened its doors in Singapore. Located in the Capitol building at City Hall, the cafe sports botanical interiors that nod to our garden city identity, along with burnished metal fixtures, and Parisian cafe-style furniture. The cafe has a medley of exclusive bakes, all prepared for them by a local patisserie.
You can also expect hot items such as their camera-ready Egg Sando ($13) and Katsu Sando ($15), so you can grab a light meal there too. Naturally, Cafe Kitsune will serve a variety of coffees and teas, including a Dirty Matcha ($9.50) and Iced Sesame Latte ($8.50). Don’t miss grabbing one of their signature fox-shaped shortbread biscuits, priced at $4.
Read our Cafe Kitsune review.
Address: 13 Stamford Road, #01-11, Capitol Singapore, Singapore 178905
Opening hours: Daily 10am to 10pm
Website
Café Kitsuné is not a halal-certified eatery.
Sabah is a hotbed for amazing, regional Malaysian cuisine, to which Ah Yen Traditional Fried Pork contributes to. The Sadakan Wet Market stall is known far and wide for their Hakka pork kway teow, and while we used to only be able to get this stall’s goodies in Kota Kinabalu and KL, they’ve finally opened a local outpost in Gardens by the Bay.
Try their Sandakan Fried Pork Kuey Teow (from $6.50): the OG dish that put Ah Yen on the map. The top-secret recipe stars Hakka pork belly marinated with red fermented beancurd and a thin, crispy crumb. The noodles are QQ and laced with lard oil too. Aside from the kway teow, the menu at Ah Yen also has dishes you won’t find at the OG outlet, including a Sarawak Laksa (from $9.50).
Read our Ah Yen Traditional Fried Pork review.
Address: 435 Orchard Road, Level 4, Food Republic, Wisma Atria, Singapore 238877
Opening hours: Daily 10am to 10pm
Website
Ah Yen Traditional Fried Pork is not a halal-certified eatery
Gyutan, AKA grilled beef or ox tongue, is a delicacy in Japan that has become a yakiniku staple in Singapore, but we’ve yet to see a gyutan don or shabu shabu concept take off here. Gyutan-Tan is stepping in to fill that gap. The Tanjong Pagar eatery is placing the spotlight on gyutan across a number of dishes, including donburi bowls, sukiyaki sets, and more. Those unsure of what to try can opt for the Sumiyaki Gyutan Combo Set ($25++), which stars charcoal-grilled cuts of ox tongue, served with an oxtail soup, pearl grain rice with pressed barley, and a serving of tororo, a mashed yam dish that serves as a palate cleanser.
Otherwise, the Premium Gyutan Shabu Shabu ($28++) is a dinner-time-only dish, where one gets a personal hotpot of sweet sukiyaki broth and a medley of ingredients to enjoy with sliced tongue.
Read our Gyutan-Tan review.
Address: 41 Tras Street, #01-01, Singapore 078980
Opening hours: Mon-Sat 11:30am to 3:30pm, 5:30pm to 10pm
Tel: 8321 3359
Website
Gyutan-Tan is not a halal-certified eatery.
Cafe Natsu made waves when they opened their flagship in Joo Chiat. If the East is too inconvenient for you, you’ll be happy to know the cafe now has a second space in Dhoby Ghaut, at the Clemenceau Citadines Connect Hotel.
Run by one Michelin-starred Chef Lewis Baker, the eatery is best known for serving up Japanese-inspired brunch, and their beautiful, minimalist decor. Get signature dishes such as their Florentine ($30++), a riff on a crab eggs benedict, and their Wagyu Sando ($26++), plated along with spicy togarashi fries, at the new outlet too.
Find out more about Cafe Natsu Dhoby Ghaut.
Address: 182 Clemenceau Avenue, Singapore 239923
Opening hours: Daily 8:30am to 5:30pm
Website
Cafe Natsu is not a halal-certified eatery.
Famed patisserie LUNA became a household name for their inventive, locally inspired Orh Nee Cake ($8+) and other beautiful entremets that taste as good as they look. While many of us have been heading down to their CDB outlet to get our LUNA fix, the cafe has announced that they’ll be opening a new cafe at Joo Chiat so Easties won’t have to travel far soon.
Apart from all their classics, LUNA Joo Chiat will also have a range of outlet-exclusive bakes, including a Rhubarb Strawberry Tart ($9+) and Vanilla Praline Tofu ($8.50).
Find out more about LUNA Joo Chiat.
If you love sashimi and yakitori, and you also live in the East, then you’ll be pleased to know that Hitoyoshi Izakaya is now officially in your ‘hood with their latest opening at Jewel. The izakaya is known for their value-for-money Japanese fare, where you get premium ingredients at decent prices.
Highlights on the menu include the Chanjya with Cream Cheese ($8++), a spicy mix of cod innards mixed with cream cheese and salty seaweed. We’re big fans of the Yaki Corn Ribs ($9++), where corn is grilled with yuzu miso to bring out its natural sweetness. Don’t miss grabbing a highball or two to accompany your meal!
Address: 78 Airport Boulevard, #05-205, Jewel, Singapore Changi Airport, Singapore 819666
Opening hours: Sun-Thurs 11:30am to 10pm, 11:30am to 12am
Tel: 6015 0398
Website
Hitoyoshi Izakaya is not a halal-certified eatery.
Melbourne cafe Puzzle Coffee recently opened their first Singaporean outlet in ION Orchard, with a whole slew of inventive coffee beverages available. For a no-frills drink, get the Magic — Melbourne’s Secret ($6), a double ristretto topped with steamed milk, akin to a richer flat white. Upgrade to enjoy your coffee in a no-waste biscuit cup for just $3.
If you like your beverages sweeter and sans caffeine, there’s the Biscoff Latte ($6.50), laced with Speculoos syrup, or the Black Sesame Latte ($6.50), which is infused with the nuttiness of goma. Aside from the drinks, you can expect a wide range of pastries and cookies by local bakery, BAO.
Read our Puzzle Coffee review.
Address: 2 Orchard Turn, B1-38/39, ION Orchard, Singapore 238801
Opening hours: Daily 10am to 10pm
Website
Puzzle Coffee is not a halal-certified eatery
If you’ve been on TikTok, you would’ve probably seen videos of All’Antico Vinaio’s sandwiches going viral. The Florence-based bakery makes schiacciata sandwiches that have queues of up to an hour-long, for their loaded, layered sandwiches prepared with house-made bread.
Now, you no longer have to hop on a plane to get your fix of a similar sandwich, as local eatery L’Arte Pizza & Focaccia has brought their own inspired take on the Italian icon to their menu. These new sandwiches come in four variations: Focaccia Bufala ($18+), Focaccia Salami ($19+), Focaccia Mortadella ($20+), and Focaccia Tartufata ($22+), all large enough to share between two.
Read our L’Arte Pizza & Focaccia review.
Address: 5 Wallich Street, #01-14, Guoco Tower, Singapore 078883
Opening hours: Mon-Sat 11am to 8pm
Tel: 8932 2923
Website
L’Arte Pizza & Focaccia is not a halal-certified eatery.
SYIP first caught our attention when their OG cafe in Farrer Park opened. Recently, they’ve expanded to the Bendemeer area, with a revamped menu to boot. The entire space blends industrial accents with minimalist touches, resembling Seoul’s trendy cafes.
Swing by for all-day brunch and dig into fusion bites, from the Octopus Mentaiko Rosti ($23++), starring a potato rosti dressed with mentaiko mayo and a charred octopus leg, or their atas Kaya Butter French Toast ($17++), an elevated take on the local breakfast staple. Also look out for a variety of specialty coffee beverages on the menu, including the Cold Hojicha Goma ($7++), a mash-up of roasted hojicha tea, espresso, and nutty goma.
Read our SYIP Bendemeer review.
Address: 72 Bendemeer Road, #01-05, Singapore 339941
Opening hours: Daily 9am to 6pm
Website
SYIP is not a halal-certified eatery.
Popular Australian-style brunch cafe Surrey Hills Grocer has opened their second outlet in ION Orchard! Here you can expect a wide selection of brunch fare and plated desserts that are conceptualised by ex-Antoinette Chef Pang.
A delicious starter is the Burrata Salad ($26++), which stars a creamy burrata ball atop a refreshing mix of tomatoes, greens, and parmesan crisps. Then, move on to the mains: the tender Roast Chicken with Grapes and Pepper Jus ($35++) will not disappoint. This meaty dish is made with organic spring chicken that’s sous vide for six hours and slow-roasted and then served with potato puree and roasted seasonal veggies.
Round off your meal with an impressive dessert spread; the Queen Victoria Donuts ($14++) come highly recommended, as with the Cereals Crusted French Toast ($22++). The latter is a mammoth-like dessert of brioche French toast coated with cereal and piled with fresh cream, ice cream, and berries—perfect for those with a sweet tooth.
Read our Surrey Hills Grocer review.
Address: 2 Orchard Turn, #05-02, ION Orchard, Singapore 237973
Opening hours: Daily 10am to 10pm
Tel: 8801 6427
Website
Surrey Hills Grocer is not a halal-certified eatery.
The latest addition to the plethora of dining options at Marina Square is The Vermilion House, offering mains, sides, and desserts with Italian influences. Carbonara purists will be delighted with their Classic Carbonara ($25++), which is made with only five ingredients—none of them being cream. Other mains on the menu include the Rack of Lamb ($35++), as well as other vegan options such as the Truffle Mushroom Risotto ($23++) and Trofie Al Pesto ($21++).
One must-try is the Smoky Marrow ($15++), an antipasti served with red sorrel and carrot puree. Diners can also try the bone marrow luge, the restaurant’s unique ‘ritual’, which sees wine being poured through the marrow and into one’s mouth.
Address: 6 Raffles Boulevard, #02-03/04, Singapore 039594
Opening hours: Daily 11:30am to 10pm
Tel: 6908 6800
Website
The Vermilion House is not a halal-certified eatery.
Popular Japanese restaurant Omote has opened their doors in the basement of Raffles City, so those in the CBD can enjoy hearty chirashi bowls and sushi bowls for lunch. The second outlet features several new items, including the Black Pork Kimbap ($15.80++) and Crispy Chilli Crab ($28.80++), alongside signature dishes such as the Tamago-Mentai Chirashi ($19.80++) and Grilled Unagi Chirashi ($25.80++).
Address: 252 North Bridge Road, #B1-44C Raffles City Shopping Centre, Singapore 179103
Opening hours: Sun-Thur 11:30am to 2pm, 5:30pm to 8:45pm, Fri-Sat 11:30am to 2:30pm, 5:30pm to 9pm
Tel: 9899 3670
Website
Omote is not a halal-certified eatery.
We know Singaporeans love affordable omakase options, so here’s one for the books: Kissajin is a new Les Amis omakase concept that has lunch menus for just $68++ per person, and dinners for $98++ per person.
Seasonal ingredients are spotlighted across the dining experience, with some contemporary nods to current, trendy Japanese dishes. When we were there, standout dishes included a Chawanmushi and Katsu Sando combo, where an umami, silken steamed egg pudding is served with two types of katsu sando: pork and tamago. Another dish of note was the Wagyu Curry Rice, where marbled pieces of Wagyu beef were cooked to perfection. The curry was a touch clumpy, though we’re willing to let that slide because of how affordable to experience was.
Read our Kissajin review here.
Address: 1 Scotts Road, #01-11, Shaw Centre, Singapore 228208
Opening hours: Daily 12pm to 3pm, 6pm to 10:30pm
Tel: 9635 0963
Website
Kissajin is not a halal-certified eatery.
Check out these new restaurants in Singapore for December 2022! If you’re looking for more dining options, check out our guide to Hong Kong cafes in Singapore, or our Gardens by the Bay food guide.
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